The Long Āgama Sūtra 28.52

28.52

佛告象首舍利弗：「若有欲界人身四大諸根，爾時正有欲界人身四大諸根，非欲界天身，色界天身，空處、識處、無所有處、有想無想處天身。如是乃至有有想無想處天身時，爾時正有想無想處天身，無有欲界人身四大諸根，及欲界天身，色界天身，空處、識處、無所有處天身。象首！譬如牛乳，乳變為酪，酪為生酥，生酥為熟酥，熟酥為醍醐，醍醐為第一。象首！當有乳時，唯名為乳，不名為酪、酥、醍醐，如是展轉，至醍醐時，唯名醍醐，不名為乳，不名酪、酥。象首！此亦如是，若有欲界人身四大諸根時，無有欲界天身，色界天身，乃至有想無想處天身；如是展轉，有有想無想處天身時，唯有有想無想處天身，無有欲界人身四大諸根，及欲界天身，色界天身，乃至無所有天身。

The Buddha told Hastikaśīrṣa Śāriputra, “If there’s a person’s body of the desire realm of four elements and faculties, then it would correct that there’s a person’s body of the desire realm of four elements and faculties but not the god body of the desire realm … form realm … abode of space … abode of consciousness … abode of nothingness … abode with and without conception… when there’s a god body of the abode with and without conception, then it would be correct that there’s a god body of the abode with and without conception but no human body of four elements and faculties of the desire realm or a god body of the desire realm, god body of the form realm … abode of space … abode of consciousness … the abode of nothingness.

“Hastikaśīrṣa, it’s like cow’s milk. Milk changes into cream, cream gives rise to raw butter, raw butter becomes refined butter, refined butter becomes ghee, and ghee is supreme. Hastikaśīrṣa, it should be that when there’s milk, it’s only called milk and not called cream, butter, and ghee. Thus, when it turns into ghee, it’s only called ghee and not called milk, cream, and butter.

“Hastikaśīrṣa, this is likewise. If there’s the desire realm person’s body of four elements and faculties, there wouldn’t be the body of the desire realm gods … form realm gods … abode with and without conception gods. Thus, they turn into each other. When the body of the abode with and without conception gods is possessed, then only that body of the abode with and without conception gods is possessed. There’s no desire realm person’s body of four elements and faculties, nor is there body of the desire realm gods … the form realm gods … abode of nothingness gods.